The Vatican Information Service is a news service, founded in the Holy See Press Office, that provides information about the Magisterium and the pastoral activities of the Holy Father and the Roman Curia...[+]

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Tuesday, November 14, 2006

- Msgr. Luis Urbanc, rector of the major seminary of Tucuman, Argentina, as coadjutor bishop of Catamarca (area 68,765, population 334,000, Catholics 327,000, priests 68, permanent deacons 1, religious 59), Argentina. The bishop-elect was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1958 and ordained a priest in 1982.

- Msgr. Pedro Maria Laxague, vicar general of the archdiocese of Bahia Blanca, Argentina, as auxiliary bishop of the same diocese (area 82,624, population 708,000, Catholics 602,000, priests 95, permanent deacons 16, religious 247). The bishop-elect was born in Buenos Aires in 1952 and ordained a priest in 1989.

- Cardinal Francesco Marchisano, president of the Labor Office of the Apostolic See, as member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.NEC:NEA:NA/.../URBANC:LAXAGUE:MARCHISANO VIS 20061114 (140)

CARDINAL NICHOLAS CHEONG JINSUK, METROPOLITAN ARCHBISHOP of Seoul, Korea, will take possession of the title of Mary Immaculate of Lourdes at Boccea, Via Santa Bernadette 23, Rome, at midday on November 19, according to a communique released today by the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff.

ARCHBISHOP CELESTINO MIGLIORE, HOLY SEE PERMANENT OBSERVER to the United Nations in New York delivered an address on November 13 before the 61st UN General Assembly, which is considering the question of "strengthening the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations." In his English-language speech, the archbishop affirmed the importance of "collaboration between coordinators and humanitarian agencies ... in order to formulate agreements and policies which respect the specificities and mandates of the humanitarian agencies while allowing them to continue to operate constructively within a given circumstance.".../IN BRIEF/... VIS 20061114 (140)

VATICAN CITY, NOV 14, 2006 (VIS) - Made public today was Benedict XVI's Message for the 93rd World Day of Migrants and Refugees, due to be celebrated on Sunday, January 14, 2007. The theme of the Day is "the migrant family," and the text, published in Italian, French, English, Spanish, German and Portuguese, is dated October 18.

The complete text of the English version of the Message is given below:

"On the occasion of the coming World Day of Migrants and Refugees, and looking at the Holy Family of Nazareth, icon of all families, I would like to invite you to reflect on the condition of the migrant family. The evangelist Matthew narrates that shortly after the birth of Jesus, Joseph was forced to leave for Egypt by night, taking the child and his mother with him, in order to flee the persecution of King Herod. Making a comment on this page of the Gospel, my venerable Predecessor, Servant of God Pope Pius XII, wrote in 1952: 'The family of Nazareth in exile, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, emigrants and taking refuge in Egypt to escape the fury of an evil king, are the model, the example and the support of all emigrants and pilgrims of every age and every country, of all refugees of any condition who, compelled by persecution and need, are forced to abandon their homeland, their beloved relatives, their neighbors, their dear friends, and move to a foreign land.' In this misfortune experienced by the Family of Nazareth, obliged to take refuge in Egypt, we can catch a glimpse of the painful condition in which all migrants live, especially, refugees, exiles, evacuees, internally displaced persons, those who are persecuted. We can take a quick look at the difficulties that every migrant family lives through, the hardships and humiliations, the deprivation and fragility of millions and millions of migrants, refugees and internally displaced people. The Family of Nazareth reflects the image of God safeguarded in the heart of every human family, even if disfigured and weakened by emigration.

"The theme of the next World Day of Migrants and Refugees - the migrant family - is in continuity with those of 1980, 1986 and 1993. It intends to underline further the commitment of the Church not only in favor of the individual migrant, but also of his family, which is a place and resource of the culture of life and a factor for the integration of values. The migrant's family meets many difficulties. The distance of its members from one another and unsuccessful reunification often result in breaking the original ties. New relationships are formed and new affections arise. Some migrants forget the past and their duties, as they are subjected to the hard trial of distance and solitude. If the immigrant family is not ensured of a real possibility of inclusion and participation, it is difficult to expect its harmonious development. The International Convention for the protection of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families, which was enforced on July 1, 2003, intends to defend men and women migrant workers and the members of their respective families. This means that the value of the family is recognized, also in the sphere of emigration, which is now a structural phenomenon of our societies. The Church encourages the ratification of the international legal instruments that aim to defend the rights of migrants, refugees and their families and, through its various institutions and associations, offers her advocacy that is becoming more and more necessary. To this end, she has opened centers where migrants are listened to, houses where they are welcomed, offices for services offered to persons and families, with other initiatives set up to respond to the growing needs in this field.

"Much is already being done for the integration of the families of immigrants, although much still remains to be done. There are real difficulties connected with some 'defense mechanisms' on the part of the first generation immigrants, which run the risk of becoming an obstacle to the greater maturity of the young people of the second generation. This is why it is necessary to provide for legislative, juridical and social intervention to facilitate such an integration. In recent times, there is an increase in the number of women who leave their countries of origin in search of better conditions of life, in view of more promising professional prospects. However, women who end up as victims of trafficking of human beings and of prostitution are not few in number. In family reunification, social workers, especially religious women, can render an appreciated service of mediation that merits our gratitude more and more.

"Regarding the integration of the families of immigrants, I feel it my duty to call your attention to the families of refugees, whose conditions seem to have gone worse in comparison with the past, also specifically regarding the reunification of family nuclei. In the camps assigned to them, in addition to logistic difficulties, and those of a personal character linked to the trauma and emotional stress caused by the tragic experiences they went through, sometimes there is also the risk of women and children being involved in sexual exploitation, as a survival mechanism. In these cases an attentive pastoral presence is necessary. Aside from giving assistance capable of healing the wounds of the heart, pastoral care should also offer the support of the Christian community, able to restore the culture of respect and have the true value of love found again. It is necessary to encourage those who are interiorly-wrecked to recover trust in themselves. Everything must also be done to guarantee the rights and dignity of the families and to assure them housing facilities according to their needs. Refugees are asked to cultivate an open and positive attitude towards their receiving society and maintain an active willingness to accept offers to participate in building together an integrated community that would be a 'common household' for all.

"Among migrants, there is a category that needs to be considered in a special way: students from other countries, who are far from home, without an adequate knowledge of the language, at times without friends and often with a scholarship that is insufficient for their needs. Their condition is even worse if they are married. Through her institutions, the Church exerts every effort to render the absence of family support for these young students less painful. It helps them integrate in the cities that receive them, by putting them in contact with families that are willing to offer them hospitality and facilitate knowing one another. As I had the opportunity to say on another occasion, helping foreign students is 'an important field of pastoral action. … Indeed, young people who leave their own country in order to study encounter many problems and especially the risk of an identity crisis.'

"Dear brothers and sisters, may the World Day of Migrants and Refugees become a useful occasion to build awareness, in the ecclesial community and public opinion, regarding the needs and problems, as well as the positive potentialities of migrant families. My thoughts go in a special way to those who are directly involved in the vast phenomenon of migration, and to those who expend their pastoral energy in the service of human mobility. The words of the apostle Paul, 'caritas Christi urget nos,' urge us to give ourselves preferentially to our brothers and sisters who are most in need. With these sentiments, I invoke divine assistance on each one and I affectionately impart to all a special apostolic blessing.MESS/MIGRANT:REFUGEE DAY/... VIS 20061114 (1280)

VATICAN CITY, NOV 14, 2006 (VIS) - In the Holy See Press Office this morning, Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino and Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, respectively president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, presented the Pope's Message for the 93rd World Day of Migrants and Refugees. The Day is due to be celebrated on Sunday, January 14, 2007 and has as its theme "the migrant family."

Cardinal Martino indicated how "in societies where immigration is an important phenomenon, the role of the family unit gives way to the individual and his or her capacity to be productive or successful. ... Language, which is a vehicle of communication, can also become a barrier between the first generation and subsequent generations, even within the same family. This accentuates the isolation of the members of the family unit, isolation that sometimes becomes solitude and marginalization."

"Isolation is even more marked," he continued, "among women, enclosed within the walls of the home and with few opportunities for external relations," who can sometimes even "end up as victims of human trafficking or of prostitution."

The cardinal highlighted how, alongside people who emigrate with their documents in order, "there are growing numbers who flee their homeland in the hope of a better future in the developed countries. ... Often the journey becomes a death trap," and many end up embroiled "in corruption, criminality and prostitution." In this context, the president of the pontifical council recalled the Holy Father's invitation "to ratify the legal instruments that aim to defend the rights of migrants, refugees and their families."

Referring to the final part of the Message, where the Holy Father talks of foreign students, Cardinal Martino said "it is calculated that they number more than two million, with a particularly large presence in the United States, Great Britain, France and Germany." After highlighting the "economic problems" faced by students from poor nations, and the "problems of integration into the host countries," the cardinal concluded by stressing how the Church, "apart from assistance, is called to offer moral support and Christian formation."

"The families of refugees must find a warm welcome in their host countries," said Archbishop Marchetto. "Today, however, it is painful for us to note that understanding and sympathy for refugees is diminishing," and "actions are committed that make life more difficult for those seeking asylum. ... Furthermore, the situation of internally displaced persons is, in general, even more difficult, as there is not yet any international legislation to deal with them."

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) looks after 20 million people, said the archbishop, while internally displaced persons number 24 million. "In the countries in the so-called South of the world, there are some six million refugees who have been living in special 'camps' for more than five years, often with little respect being shown for their rights. ... They are unable to work properly, or leave their 'camps' freely, because their movements are restricted." Moreover, "the food rations given them are often insufficient."

"Maintaining a family under such conditions is obviously very difficult," said the secretary of the pontifical council, pointing out how this has a negative effect on internal relationships within the family as a result of which "social structures are weakened and people lose their values, their humanity and their dignity."

Finally, the archbishop spoke of refuge families who have found asylum in other countries, and highlighted the necessity of "accompanying" them in their adaptation to their new environment, a field in which local Churches could play an important role, he said. "Such accompaniment," he concluded, "is necessary during the process of integration. It is an expression of respect for others and at the same time, enables the people assisted to change, in accordance with the real concept of integration, which is not assimilation. For us, such an approach has deep roots in Christianity and, even today, shows what the Church stands for and promotes."OP/MIGRANTS:REFUGEES/MARTINO:MARCHETTO VIS 20061114 (680)

VATICAN CITY, NOV 14, 2006 (VIS) - The Holy See Press office released the following communique late yesterday afternoon:

"The Holy Father has called a meeting of the heads of dicasteries of the Roman Curia, for Thursday, November 16, in order to examine the situation that has arisen following the disobedience of Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, and to reflect upon requests for dispensation from the obligation of celibacy and requests for readmission to the priestly ministry, presented by married priests over the course of recent years. No other matters are scheduled on the order of the day."OP/MEETING HEADS DICASTERY/MILINGO VIS 20061114 (110)